Stercorarius Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 So guys I never introduced myself properly. I'm an eighteen-year-old guy, senior in high school, still living at my parent’s home. I’m from central/eastern Washington. No, I'm not talking about D.C. I'm talking about the state. I know many of you think Washington is rainy all the time and made out of Starbucks stores. That is true for the west side of the cascade mountains. The east and west are polar opposites in both climate and political views. I live in the basin which is technically a desert (less than 10" of rain annually). We got cold winters and climb above 100 regularly in the summer without seeing any rain between May and September. I come from a construction background. I grew up around and with tools. Since I could walk I spent time “helping” my dad at work. I have done a lot of little jobs here and there while growing up. I didn’t really start buying tools until I bought a project vehicle when I was fifteen. What was going to be a leaky radiator replacement quickly spiraled out of control and became a complete rebuild of the whole truck. It has given me some experience in the automotive field and working with hand tools. When I tore it down I had next to no tools. I used a concrete stake hammered through the oil filter to take it off. My first real tool purchase was a proto torque wrench, which led to another torque wrench, which led to my addiction. I currently have grown a collection that exceeds most. About two and a half years ago I got a job with an agriculture company. It has given me experience in many fields (both uses of the word) and requires me to adapt quickly to new trades. I do some electrical, plumbing, construction, concrete, remodeling, animal husbandry, fabrication, welding, equipment repair, facility maintenance, operate heavy construction equipment, drive semi’s, and sometimes some tractor work in the summers. It is good work and allows me to put my tools to the test in extreme environments (e.g. cow shit, snow, rain, dust). I always enjoy seeing other people’s tools and hearing their thoughts on them. That is what led me to the T.I.A. forum. It makes me glad to see I’m not the only addict around. I’m in the process of cleaning and organizing my tools so I figure I would share some pictures and short thoughts on each one. I will be going through and posting a section a day, starting today, until I have gone through my complete collection. Day one will be the largest as I have a lot of time today. I look forward to your feedback. If anybody else wants to start another thread for their collection I would love to read it. Day One: The Junk In My Trunk So I’m going to start off this series with a walkthrough of some of my more expensive units. ToughSytem Tower ToughSystem Radio Price: $200 This is one sweet radio. I look forward to the guys’ video on it. It costs the same as other competitors and the sound is by far the best I’ve experienced. I’d take it over any other day in and day out. I’ve had it side by side with the Milwaukee 2792 and it is substantially clearer. Don’t get me wrong, that Milwaukee is a fabulous radio but the DeWalt is just something special. It can handle dust and water. Some things I’d like to point out are the fact that the battery is completely enclosed. And the cord is removable. It does have some issues though. The clock doesn’t work and never will. The storage compartment has a usb port to charge your device but it doesn’t fit your phone if you have a big guy or a bulky case. The compartment is difficult to get open most of the time and it is next to impossible to get the power cord to fit into it. It takes a while to get it to turn on and off. The Milwaukee was too easy to turn on, one tap and sound is coming out. This one is too hard to turn on. You have to press firmly for a good 3 seconds to get toggle it and it takes a while to boot up. This will explain what I mean better. https://youtu.be/PbKNepvbwAo ToughSystem Boxes: Price: Around $50 for DS150 (small guy) and $55 for DS300 (big fella) My man George Frontino did a pretty good write up on these here and some guys you’ve probably heard of did their take on them here so all I’m going to say on these is that if you want a small parts organizer just go with the Milwaukee it is a lot cheaper and the Dewalt bins are kinda lightweight. The DS150 was bought for a separate battery project that I haven’t gotten around to finishing and it has become my M12 storage. The larger one has become my DeWalt powertool box. I am looking into the ridged boxes as an alternative because these are pricey. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Milwaukee Organizer Price: $20 TIA has a review of these here. Just the highlights I noticed, everything is great quality, a lot cheaper than DeWalt alternatives. I plan on getting some more. I have noticed the seal likes to come out though. The buckets have hooks that allow them to be hung on screws if you need them to. Size comparison: The M12 Army Let me just say that this isn’t my complete collection and there is more M12 to come. Fuel 3/8 Impact Wrench Price: $200 Kit The guys are on top of it all. This thing has two speeds and is really a nice machine to have. It doesn’t have quite as much power as an impact driver but its small size and weight is convenient for most stuff. https://youtu.be/C1u28k-GG7Y 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Right Angle Drill Price: $80 Bare Tool Not very heavy duty. Plastic chuck. Reversal switch is a pain. That being said it is convenient to have. Nice for running through tight studs or if you are a guy who screws together concrete forms. Really what this tool has made me want is a right angle impact driver Lantern Price: $59 Bare Tool This thing is fantastic. Good light quality and pattern. Adjustable lights let it shine 180 degrees or 360. The usb port on the back is a nice addition. It isn’t as bright or as big as the M18 but it works out nice in small rooms. I’m really liking the true view line of lighting. I’m still not sure why manufacturers bother with having strobe functions built into all their lights, but at least on this one you have to hold the button if you want it to strobe so you don’t have to cycle through it to turn it off. http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/power-tool-forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach§ion=attach&attach_id=5621 TIA Article 3/8 Drill Driver Price: $100 with Hackzall I was really impressed with this little drill. I got it during the holidays with the hackzall and was expecting it to just be a junk drill. It has two speeds and a surprising amount of torque I know it isn’t the fuel hammer drill but it has no problem punching a 9/16 hole through 16-gauge steel. It has become my go to pilot hole machine. It’ll zip right through vehicle frames. Hackzall Price: $90 Bare Tool or $100 Kit with Drill I was really impressed with this little thing. Like an elf on pcp this thing has a lot of power in a small package. I don’t get a whole lot of use out of it though. I would really like to compare it to the fuel version at some point. It is nice for cutting sheet metal. To be honest though I go for my aviation snips over this thing on thin metal. https://youtu.be/zkz6J2XGlTk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Nice collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Nice reviews, first off I have 5 of them milwaukee boxes and they are great. I love the right angle drill, I use it for kreg pocket screws all the time in tight places. Don't find the reverse switch annoying either, I find it a nice change of pace. Nice reviews dude. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Coming up for day 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR99 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 You can't beat the Milwaukee True Vue Led lights they came in super handy during the power outage I had. Man I wish I had the tool setup you got going on when I was 18!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmikez Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Agree with Jason bro you have a very nice arsenal at the age of 18 bro and Thank you for the reviews man keep up the great work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77Ford01 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Nice collection .....keep postingDeWalt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Living at home still.... must be nice lol oh man I had to say something haha. I actually moved out at 18 for college, 5 hours away, but still had some support from parents. Sounds like you caught the bug early I never thought much of tools until I found TIA!! Also love seeing the view points from different perspectives and backgrounds. Definitely an interesting job description too.And now I need to get myself some of those Milwaukee organizers.... why am I not surprised lolSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 MilwaukeeOrganizerPrice: $20TIA has a review of these here.Just the highlights I noticed, everything is great quality, a lot cheaper than DeWalt alternatives. I plan on getting some more. I have noticed the seal likes to come out though. The buckets have hooks that allow them to be hung on screws if you need them to.Have you thought of using gasket adhesive? Such as what is used for automotive or maybe a spray adhesive like 3M makesSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Have you thought of using gasket adhesive? Such as what is used for automotive or maybe a spray adhesive like 3M makesSent from my SCH-I535 using TapatalkI'll dab on some stuff I have laying around and see what happens. Thanks for the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WigWagWorkshop Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Dang, you sure have an awesome collection of tools going on there. Thanks for the review of the DeWalt Radio, I think I am going to score that for the workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Man wish they had these types of tools back when i was 18,id have a grundle of sweet stuff. That Dewalt radio is on my list for the garage. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Day 2: Team Yellow Strikes Back So today I'll be going through my DeWalt cordless tool collection in its entirety. I really like how the large ToughSystem box DWST08203 conveniently fits all my tools. DCF899H Price: $200 Bare tool I did a pretty in depth review in a different post here. It's easily my most used DeWalt DCF886 Price: Varies This li'l guy was my go to compact impact wrench until the M12 came into my possession. It has taken apart a lot of Honda pieces. As far as impact drivers go today this thing is pretty basic. If you are looking for different settings this isn't for you. It doesn't have three speeds like it's successor. It also doesn't have a self tapper mode like the Fuel gen 2's. It is lower in torque compared to the Milwaukees. So what I am saying is that on paper this is clearly not the best impact driver on the market. That probably also correlates to not the best performance in the real world, but I can't say for sure. However, what I can say for sure is that this is one fantastic impact driver. I'm a huge fan of the DeWalt grips. They really knew what they were doing with regards to the ergonomics and solid feel. I can't and won't say that it is better or worse than any other impact driver on the market because I don't have the experience with other impact drivers. I have used the Milwaukee Gen 2 and was impressed with it. That being said, I really don't care that this doesn't have multiple speeds or a self tapper mode. Just because of habit and preference I would always have it on the highest setting and control the speed with the trigger. It is just what I am used to doing. If it had more torque I wouldn't be complaining. Even if it isn't the best in the market, I really can't find any major problems with this tool. This thing always gets the job done for me, and that's all that matters at the end of the day. DCD995 Price: Varies I purchased this drill in the kit with the driver. It has plenty enough power for me. It has three speeds over the typical two. It feels good, looks good, is solidly built, and most importantly drills holes.It has a staggered start in screwdriver mode to help start your screws, but I rely on my impact driver for that. The handle rotates around the chuck and can be placed in any position, an option not offered with the Milwaukee. To be completely honest, I rarely ever use the hammerdrill function. All the concrete drilling I deal with is in SDS sized holes so I can't comment on its capabilities. I got the hammer drill exclusively because it was that, or the compact kit. I originally had the compact and returned it because the drill didn't have enough power. DCS380 Price: $120 Bare Tool Yes, that is a Milwaukee blade. They are nice, but the arched Lenox blades are the best that I have come across This saw is powerfull for a brushed model. I would like to upgrade to a Fuel Sawzall at some point, but for now this thing is plenty. It doesn't have the power or run time of a brushless tool. DeWalt really has been lagging behind in the brushless game. I was really surprised by how much power this thing does have though. The four way blade clamp comes in handy frequently. With it's lightweight is nice to run up a ladder with when you just need to cut out a few boards. It makes removing/modifying exhaust set ups a breeze. This thing is a real time saver. DCF620 Price: $200 Kit This thing was an impulse buy when I had to do a small drywall job. I used it for the one job and haven't gotten any use out of it since. It'll probably end up as a gift to my dad. It had amazing runtime though. I really enjoyed using it. It has a nice weight and feel to it with the compact batteries, but felt odd and bulky with a full size battery. Can't really say much more about it. DCG412 Price: $120 Bare Tool What can I say? DeWalt really screwed up when it came to cordless grinders. Milwaukee totally leap frogged them with the new fuel grinder with magnetic brake. This thing has a surprising amount of power and is great for an occasional cut. It just doesn't have any run time at all. You run through all your batteries in a matter of minutes. This thing is hardly useful with how quickly it eats through the batteries. I'm definitely looking into the Metabo brushless as a replacement. Lights Price: $60ish a piece These things are great. The stick light can be hung anywhere and is nice for lighting up an area. The Spot light is great for focusing on a certain work piece. The red LED option on it is a lifesaver under vehicles where you run the risk of having the light unintentionally blind you. The light color isn't as nice as the True View series but it definitely does the trick. I love these two and have spent many nights working in the dark with these things. Definitely worth the investment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Lookin good man! I have used that dewalt recip saw with the 4 way head many times before, it does make it nice sometimes there's no question thereSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george frontino Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Im looking to get the drywall gun...as a business purchase[emoji23][emoji23]A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possiblewww.frontinoconstruction.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Nice write ups! I'm a Dewalt guy myself, upgrade that 886 to the 887 it's a little beast, the extra torques kick some arse.I have the hammer drill to and I love it, 3 speeds is awesome handle is great and it is pretty powerful until red came into my life and it just seems like it lacks a little IMO. That thing chews through concrete though.I think you have the model number wrong on the drywall gun, I have it too and I think it is the dcf 620... Great screw gun.Love them lights the work light is the first thing I grab for!Nice write ups man keep them coming!JimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Nice write ups! I'm a Dewalt guy myself, upgrade that 886 to the 887 it's a little beast, the extra torques kick some arse.I have the hammer drill to and I love it, 3 speeds is awesome handle is great and it is pretty powerful until red came into my life and it just seems like it lacks a little IMO. That thing chews through concrete though.I think you have the model number wrong on the drywall gun, I have it too and I think it is the dcf 620... Great screw gun.Love them lights the work light is the first thing I grab for!Nice write ups man keep them coming!JimboSent from my iPhone using TapatalkOh shoot you're right man. Nice catch, thanks. I have actually ran the hammer drill side by side with a first gen fuel without any substantial difference between the two. No gen 2 usage so I'll take your word for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Oh shoot you're right man. Nice catch, thanks. I have actually ran the hammer drill side by side with a first gen fuel without any substantial difference between the two. No gen 2 usage so I'll take your word for it.Check on later YouTube later [emoji6]JimboSent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Nice collection so far son, I can call you son cause I have kids older than you....lol it is nice to see you spending your hard earned money on something other than things that disappear........Don't look like you need much arm twisting but TIA is always here to help with that..... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Yeah between Jimbo and Comp and afew other of you guys, I'm not sure how there are tools I don't have. Thanks for all the feedback guys! Anybody got any requests for what they want to see next? Not my whole collection, but a good sized chunk of it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george frontino Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Pneumatic tools?A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possiblewww.frontinoconstruction.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Pneumatic tools?A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possiblewww.frontinoconstruction.comHaven't gotten to that point in my collection yet. I don't have any because they aren't worth anything till I have a running truck and my current job doesn't frame enough that we need anymore than the one gun my coworker runs. I do have a compressor that I can have, if I can fix it. I can tell you that if you are looking for a framing gun, just get a NR83A2 or NR83A3 by Hitachi. That is all my dad has used for decades and it's the only gun I've ever used and ever will. All the framers around here also use the same gun. Hitachi makes all around great guns. Bostitch guns are a PITA and expensive to get parts or service for ever since they merged into the Stanleyblackanddecker deal. Paslode makes good stuff too. Porter cable and Hitachi make decent roofing guns. There are several roofing companies that exclusively run Senco guns though just because that's what they have the best luck with. As far as automotive tools go, I'm not qualified to comment on. There are a lotta guys on here that are really knowledgeable on the subject. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdog22 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Nice write up, good collection. Tools are always a good investment. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.